Formula One: Big two fight rule changes

By Will Gray

12:01AM GMT 21 Feb 2003

Two of Formula One's top three teams, McLaren and Williams, yesterday joined forces to fight the introduction of new regulations which they claim are "dumbing down" the sport and threatening its long-term future.

Williams managing director Sir Frank Williams and McLaren chairman Ron Dennis are against many of the widespread changes which were introduced in an attempt to liven up the sport and keep the smaller, under-funded teams in business.

The pair, who claim to be backed by all the manufacturers on the grid, believe that Federation Internationale de l'Automobile president Max Mosley has gone against the sport's rule book and will take their case to an international court of arbitration in Switzerland in May.

"We are not prepared to accept further change," said Dennis. "We have served notice legally against this and we are absolutely convinced, guided by the professionals we have hired to investigate it, that we will win.

"Nobody is more passionate about the long-term interests of Formula One than Frank and myself and, if we didn't defend this matter, we believe there would be a systematic growth of problems."

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The pair openly criticised Mosley for his dictatorial approach and Williams added: "This is not necessarily to change the rules back, it is to tell Max, 'We observe the rules, please do so yourself'."

Dennis and Williams were angered by the FIA's failure to consult the teams properly before Mosley issued his demands at a Heathrow meeting on Jan 15 and believe the changes, which include the scrapping of traction control, have actually increased the costs.

Dennis also blamed the FIA for the collapse of plans for a financial hand-out to keep the smaller teams in business.

The pair are worried that the changes make the sport more dangerous because the teams will have just 2.5 hours - 16 hours less than normal - to prepare their cars for each race after qualifying.

Williams said: "We have lost two of our drivers in grand prix cars - Piers Courage in 1970 and Ayrton Senna in 1994 - so we take safety very seriously. No one can tell us we're using safety just to stop change."

But one Formula One source said: "Their logic is flawed because they claim the FIA is a dictatorship. Yet they can go to arbitration and, if they have serious safety concerns, then why are they putting their cars out on track this season?"

Both teams were involved in the boycott of the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola in 1982 when there was a dispute over a rule clarification and the race was turned into a farce. The two teams, however, insist they are committed to Formula One and, though they fear being "treated differently" by the FIA this season, both team chiefs said they will not quit the sport.

When asked whether his team's future was in the balance, Williams said: "An emphatic no! We are serious players, we are committed and competitive and we intend to be around as long as Formula One is around."